US Westinghouse Selected as Operator for Poland's First Nuclear Phase... KHNP Faces Setback

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Westinghouse, a US company, has been selected as the primary contractor for the first phase of Poland's first nuclear power plant construction project. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, which competed for the contract, faced disappointment.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Twitter on the 28th (local time), "After talks with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, we have confirmed the use of Westinghouse's safe technology for our nuclear power project."

Secretary Granholm also confirmed, "I heard the news that the Polish Prime Minister announced the US government and Westinghouse as the primary contractor for the $40 billion nuclear power plant construction first phase." She added, "This is a clear message to Russia that the Atlantic alliance is united in diversifying our energy supply, responding to climate change, and countering the weaponization of energy."

This decision was made amid rising security concerns centered on Eastern Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin, who visited the US, said after talks with Secretary Granholm, "We cannot ignore the fact that the US is a strategic partner in Poland's overall security structure," adding, "Considering such factors, it is highly likely that we will ultimately select Westinghouse."

The new Polish nuclear power project involves constructing six pressurized water reactors with a capacity of 6 to 9 gigawatts (GW). Three companies?Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, US-based Westinghouse, and France's EDF?submitted proposals. Particularly from Korea's perspective, the Polish nuclear project, which Korea had been diligently pursuing, was handed over to the US, which prioritized security logic.

Westinghouse previously filed an intellectual property lawsuit in the US to counter its competitor, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. On the 21st, Westinghouse submitted a complaint to the Federal District Court in Washington DC, claiming that its technology was used in Korea's next-generation nuclear reactor APR1400 developed by Korea Electric Power Corporation and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and requested restrictions on the export of the Korean-type nuclear reactor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.